31st SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
2Thessalonians
Luke 19:1-10
"Today salvation has
come to this house.”
Last Sunday, we saw how
Jesus made a Publican the star of his parable. Today, not only in a
parable but in an event in Jesus' life does the Lord make a real hero out of a
tax-collector. The encounter at the sycamore tree has again imprinted an
evangelic message at this historic town of
1. God's remembering every single soul is first and foremost gratuitous. Meaning, it always starts with God's initiative and is not solicited. This is due to the fact that there is nothing in us which is good enough to win the attention of God. If ever there is any good, it is because God himself makes it good.
The experience of Zacchaeus is a typical example. True, he runs and climbs a sycamore tree just to see Jesus. This may probably suggest an inner desire on his part to be nearer to the Lord. But such motive is not that clear. The gospel is silent, in fact. What is much clearer is that Zacchaeus simply wants to see what this famous Rabbi of Nazareth is like. So, just like anybody else, it seems that plain curiosity has moved him. That is why even Zacchaeus himself has no other good reason to expect for something more. He knows who he is, he knows about his standing in the community, and of how the Jews consider and treat tax-collectors like him. Morally or religiously speaking, there is not any good in him deserving the attention of someone whom people consider as a great prophet. In short, it is beyond his wild imagining that Jesus would stop and call on him. But this is what practically happens. Jesus stops to call him by name, as if Zacchaeus were an old, old friend.
"Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” This seems to be Jesus' subtle yet explicit way of letting us know that his "remembering" is gratuitous. Jesus goes beyond any motives. His words are clear. He invites himself to Zacchaeus’ house. He does not wait for Zacchaeus to invite him, but takes the initiative to. No doubt, this creates a total disgust and envy of the Pharisee. But surely, this begets, too, the untold surprise and great joy of Zacchaeus.
2. But if Jesus gives his grace gratuitously and freely, it is all because he wants all to be saved and not a single soul shall perish. This is the expressed message of the gospel. "The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost” Such statement reminds us of the loving concern of the good shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in the wasteland just to search for the lost one (cf Lk 15:4-7). This right attitude of a shepherd is a task and responsibility long betrayed by the Jewish leaders. They have enriched themselves even at the expense of their sheep, slaughtering rather than defending them. Thus, Jesus now comes to fulfill what Ezekiel has long prophesied (cf Ez 34:11-16). He now takes upon himself the person of the good shepherd.
Before the eyes of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Zacchaeus
is a lost sheep. So, he remembers him with kindness and searches for him not
only at the old rugged road of
3. In a deeper sense, therefore, this gratuitous act is a concrete overflow of his infinite love and mercy. God, omnipotent as he is, has all the reason and right to show his command over heaven and earth through his infinite power and might. Even at a wink of an eye, he may declare salvation over all his creation, and everything will be as perfect and fine as willed. But this he does not do. Rather, he dispenses his of salvation through love and mercy. This goes to say that he wants be known not so much by his power as he does by his love, not so much by his justice as by his mercy. He is a God who wants to be revered by love rather than by fear. For indeed, what is both more human and more divine is to live in love and not in fear.
It is for this reason that the image of the Good Shepherd is meek and humble. He is not fearful but lovable. He loves and is lovable because he is love. And indeed, it is because of this immense love that God has carved every name at his palm and remembers every child even perhaps the child's own mother forgets and forsakes him (cf Is 49:15-16). This love that remembers forever is the same love that now moves the Good Shepherd to go and dine at a sinner's house.
4. Such divine strategy has made a tremendous effect
on Zacchaeus. As the gospel puts it: "He hurried down and welcomed him joyfully.”
For Zacchaeus, the encounter is such an amazing grace. But what is more interesting is the feet that he does not waste this
great opportunity. As the Lord offers his
love today, Zacchaeus too opens his house
with love today. This Zacchaeus shows by his genuine resolve to make
amends: "Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and
if I cheated anybody I will pay him back the amount.”
What we
actually see here is an exchange of love, an exchange of generosity. Zacchaeus
is now ready to give half of his property and repay fourfold to whoever he
might have cheated. Giving such amount of money and property is more than
enough that even human experience could seldom and hardly allow. But if ever Zacchaeus
is able to give more than enough, it is because he himself has received more
than enough, too. This is practically what